Reports that a government decision means that the UK will never build another combat aircraft have led the Conservative's to accuse the government of trying to keep the move secret from the British public.

Defence secretary Geoff Hoon has backed a cost-cutting measure to halt funding for the RAF's Future Offensive Aircraft Capability, a decision thought likely to save £1.26 billion over the next 10 years.

The government defended the move as a simple delay in deciding how to replace Tornado aircraft when they are withdrawn from service in 2020.

Responding to reports shadow defence secretary Iain Duncan Smith accused the government of keeping the decision a secret.

"Hoon deliberately hid this decision from the public in the run-up to the Election," he said.

"It is now clear that when we attacked them for planning cuts of £1 billion they knew that they were going to do just that. Their denials are now shown to be hollow and shameful. The government always intended to cut the defence budget in their desperation to save money," he added.